Not eating

[claireRoberts76]

Hello ladies... mum had 2nd chemo last thu so it’s a week now and she’s still so terribly weak and dosent eat hardly anything and been sick a few times... Is this normal? .. Im concerned as she will be so weak for her operation! the weights coming off her quite fast she was only 10st to start with! thank you xxxx

[Lyndy]

Is her team aware that she is not eating? Have they offered any explanation? I think it might be time to push for this to be taken more seriously. Sickness meds can be adjusted and I know many have said that it took a while to find the right one...or might there be another reason? Best of luck Claire and your Mum...it must be awful for her xx

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Lyndy]

shes been taken in now so hopefully they will sort it out... she was ok until second chemo then shes had a very rough week its worrying me a lot! so we phoned and they want her in.. she’s so weak its really upsetting ! they said she would be rough but this is not good she’s been on the sofa 7 days ! thank you x

[Lindaura in reply to claireRoberts76]

So glad to hear she has been taken into hospital.

She needs to be stabilised and the right anti nausea med discovered.

Most of us struggled to get the right balance while undergoing treatment.

Now, just make sure she finds something palatable and that she gets hydrated and strong once more.

Hugs,

Laura

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Lindaura]

her white blood cells are low and they have put her on antibiotics....hopefully they will sort everything out now today xx

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Lindaura]

hi ! shes also on antibiotics too... just wish she could eatxxxx

[Yoshbosh]

Hopefully they can get her nausea under control - often the meds need tweaking to find the combo that works best for the individual. I have an entire cupboard full of different kinds of anti-nausea tablets!

I’m glad they have admitted her - they’ll be able to check her over properly and make sure she’s OK.

Thinking of you both. Let us know how she gets on.

Vicki x

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thank you vicki!... I just want her to eat but she wont! dads so upset! we all are.. hopefully they will put her on a drip now poor mum ! she says she’s trying but it all just presses then she’s sick! xxx thank you x

[Small_bump]

Oh no I'm so sorry to hear your mum is so poorly, I can't offer any practical advice as I haven't had chemo but I think some people just seem to unfortunately have much worse side effects than others. I really hope the hospital can help her symptoms and find something that works for her, it must be such a worrying time for you, lots of love

Emma xx

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Small_bump]

Thank you emma!! The chemo is harsh wow!! poor mum xxxxxxx hope you are ok x

[Small_bump in reply to claireRoberts76]

Thanks Claire, still waiting on results as my MRI results were lost for a little while, only flagged up when I rang to see what was going on, consultant got hold of them today finally and wants to see me Tuesday so I'm still waiting!

I do hope your poor mum begins to feel better soon, it sounds as though it's really hard on her at the minute, best wishes

Emma xx

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Small_bump]

thank you emma.... best wishes to you too xxxxxx

[sjg81]

Hi Claire,

I hope your mum is getting sorted now that she's being taken in. My mum lost her appetite as she suffered badly with ascites and just didn't want to eat but I remember them giving her these drinks (sorry I can't remember the name but they reminded me of a smoothie) and they helped to keep her strength up. It was the CNS that got them for her and they come in loads of different flavours.

Sending love to you all xx

[claireRoberts76 in reply to sjg81]

thank you so much !! she is trying to eat it just dosent stay down xxx

[Lindaura]

Dear Claire, this happened to me at the beginning of my treatment. I could not get the nausea under control coupled with my being too weak to begin with, we finally brought me back to the Chemo Suite and when they saw how bad off I was, they asked me if I would like to go into hospital.

I was an idiot then and almost said no. They should have hospitalised from the start of treatment, but anyway, they took me in and I spent the next 10 days on steroids and IV hydration, with added vitamins and minerals.

We found an anti nausea med that I could take all day long, Cyclazine, and soon I was able to eat more, mostly mashed potatoes and ice cream, but we kept trying different foods, Cheerios were good, toast and peanut butter worked for a while, until I stopped losing weight.

I think you should talk to the Chemo Suite people and your mum’s CNS, and get her inside to be stabilised!

Hope this helps,

Laura

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Lindaura]

a doctor has told her white blood cells are very low but they would be wouldnt they? xx

[Lind58]

My mom was the same way after her first treatment. I had to push her and tell her the harsh realities of not pushing herself to eat. Brain storm and think of all things that she use to love, and could potentially love! Make her as many small meals as possible, it’s so rough. Trust me I am in the same boat, but keep pushing and pushing.

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Lind58]

hello! shes trying just comes straight up like reflux ... like something pressing on her chest... shes perked up a lot by today tho, on fluids and antibiotics as there is an infc somwehere !!... thank you xxx

[Chick44nzrn]

Hello Claire . Of course you must be very concerned but having been there s few months ago please be assured the antibiotics should make a huge difference and getting the right antisickness and steroids will boost her enormously !!

It’s rather scary feeling very weak but it should improve rapidly when on the helpful anti dideceffect meds . I have on day 2 a thing called Neulasta as well as dexametbazone a steroid and I’m doing pretty well despite the side effects but they are bearable and with lots of rest I can enjoy the v good times which I grab these days! Love and encouraging wishes to you both for good outcomes and improvement rapidly

Love

Denise x

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Chick44nzrn]

She’s a LOT better now but still cant eat! Its like there is something pressing she said it just comes up like reflux!... shes on a saline drip and antibiotics.... so perked up a lot! Its the not able to keep anything down that worries me! x

[AlaNtO]

Side effects are numerous and often not mentioned - thats all of them. Please ensure that your Oncologist center weighs her each visit (BP, Pulse and Bloods as well) as many treatments are based on weight and you dont want to overdose as a fall could be terminal in her state. Savoury eats like soups and those already mentioned help. Mouth sores hopefully prevented. Take a bow for looking after her in this hour of her need.

[Caroles1]

Have they given her Omaprezole? It was only when I took that that my appetite returned, it disperses the acid. I had no appetite and kept bringing up acid until I took one tab a day.

I had major ascites, drained over a 2 week period before my op.

Carole xx

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Caroles1]

Thanks so much!!!!!! will ask about this! xxxxx

[Caroles1]

Ps had Omaprezole and 2 blood transfusions before my op, put me right xx

[Chick44nzrn]

Hi Clsire . How are things today ? About not being able to eat yes; I had that when first on chemo , and a similar journey

With hospital admissions , nutropenia etc but it was sorted , by iv antibiotics.

As long as Your mum can drink I’d suggest don’t worry too much right now as I think get appetite like mine will come c

Back soon . Some early foods I could just tolerate were fresh pineapple pieces , some spoons of soup ? Nothing with sugar Avocado in small pieces, a little cooked chicken but not much else. omeprazole definitely helps and steroids ( Dexametazone e g does stimulate appetite considerably . ) For the nausea the meta chlopromide helps very effectively and I found the management of the side effects that is supervised by the onco team is the key to getting past the big road blocks that are frightening at first when it looks like you are being annihilated st the outset.

During and after each Taxol I’m given a cocktail of I V drugs plus a day later

Neulasta injection . After the initial chemo , now on good management protocol I’m sure things for your mum will be improved hugely as they gave do far for me once I got the right drugs . Warm wishes and thinking about how you are getting on .

Denise x

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Chick44nzrn]

Hi denise! thank you for reply and being so helpful!.. mum is on a drip and antibiotics at the hosp and so much better! What a worry on thu night she was so so weak!

She still cant eat though, as soon as she does something just pushes it straight back out and she has this uncomfortable pain in her chest! Not sure what this is as it started 4 days after 2nd chemo! her weight has come down so much! I will mention these thank you so much!

Its worrying me so much because chemo no 3 is due on the 18th ! she couldnt do it at the moment no way! x